Crest Middle's clutch plays deliver title against rival Shelby

Crest’s Tavian Brintley goes up for a basket as Shelby’s Justin Boyd defends during the Tri-County Conference championship game.

Brittany Randolph/The Star

By Alan Ford

Published: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 07:16 PM.

With a gymnasium full of screaming fans, the players for the Crest and Shelby Middle School boys teams were put to the test.

The team that could most retain its poise in all the excitement would likely walk away with the Tri-County Conference championship.

Led by Justin Foster’s 26 points, the host Crest Dragons weathered the storm for a 51-44 triumph over their rivals to complete an undefeated season (11-0).

It was the third meeting of the season between the combatants. Crest had won both of those, one an overtime struggle. Again this time, nothing was settled until the final minute.

Crest’s press resulted in three straight Shelby turnovers to start the fourth period and expand a 39-34 lead to 44-34. Yet the visiting Blue Devils didn’t go quietly, making their own charge within 45-44 with 1:46 to play after a 3-point basket by Shelby’s Juwan Sims.

It took a timeout to settle the Dragons.

“I told them they just had to calm down and focus,” said Crest coach Jay Washburn.

With a gymnasium full of screaming fans, the players for the Crest and Shelby Middle School boys teams were put to the test.

The team that could most retain its poise in all the excitement would likely walk away with the Tri-County Conference championship.

Led by Justin Foster’s 26 points, the host Crest Dragons weathered the storm for a 51-44 triumph over their rivals to complete an undefeated season (11-0).

It was the third meeting of the season between the combatants. Crest had won both of those, one an overtime struggle. Again this time, nothing was settled until the final minute.

Crest’s press resulted in three straight Shelby turnovers to start the fourth period and expand a 39-34 lead to 44-34. Yet the visiting Blue Devils didn’t go quietly, making their own charge within 45-44 with 1:46 to play after a 3-point basket by Shelby’s Juwan Sims.

It took a timeout to settle the Dragons.

“I told them they just had to calm down and focus,” said Crest coach Jay Washburn.

Foster put in a basket off a rebound with 41 seconds left after a wild flurry under the Crest basket. The Dragons then made four straight free throws with Wesley Bullard and Foster doing the honors, respectively, to close it out.

Foster hit 6-of-9 chances at the line in the contest for Crest. Shelby collectively had problems at the line, making only 9-of-21 on the day.

“All week we had talked about defense and we did a good job,” said Devils coach Ford Lawrence. “Our Achilles heel was the free throws.”

It was Crest that struggled with turnovers in the first half and went to the break down 28-26. Six points each down inside by C.J. Ross and Justin Boyd helped counter the 15 Crest got from Foster in the first half.

The Dragons went ahead on a 3-point basket from Tyshun Odom on its first possession of the third quarter and never trailed again.

“At times our defense lapsed,” said Crest’s Washburn. “But then we had the moment at the start of the fourth quarter and that really got us pumped up.”